David Beckham Left Off Great Britain's Squad For London Olympics

Breaking news! David Beckham was not selected for thin Britain's Olympic football squad in a huge blow for the former England captain's hopes of crowning the twilight of his career in style.
The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder had been widely expected to be named as one of the three over-age players in Stuart Pearce's Under-23 squad for the London Games in July and August.
"Naturally I am very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me," Beckham, 37, said in quotes relayed by his spokesman on Thursday.
British media reports said Manchester United's long-serving Welsh winger Ryan Giggs, Wales striker Craig Bellamy and Manchester City right back Micah Richards, who missed out on England's Euro 2012 campaign, had been chosen.  There was no official word on why coach Pearce had overlooked Beckham who has played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan in a glittering career that has brought titles in England and Spain as well as the United States. He watched Beckham play for the Galaxy recently having included him in his initial 35-man squad. 
The announcement for the final 18-man squad is due next week. Beckham told reporters last month: "I don't want to be picked on a shirt sale or stadium filler. I want to be picked because of what I can bring to the team."  Beckham was England's most capped outfield player with 115 appearances but has not played for the national team since 2009. The world famous trend-setter had accepted his time with England was over despite not officially retiring from the international game with the London Olympics in sight.

As a globally recognized figure, he has had a major role both in London winning the Olympics and in the build-up to the Games, helping bring the flame back from Greece. He had been tipped by media to light the stadium cauldron when the Games begin in his east London birthplace on July 27.
This now looks unlikely while he definitely will not be able to be the British flag bearer at the opening ceremony as he is not competing.  Critics who believe football has an uneasy place in the Games because of the vast sums of money professionals earn had said they would be uncomfortable with the Olympics becoming a "David Beckham show". The Olympic football tournament, originally designed for amateurs but now the only Games event to have an age limit, is not so highly regarded in Europe where the World Cup and European Championship are seen as the elite tests.
Olympic football is popular among South American players, however. Hosts Britain, taking part in their first Olympic football finals since 1960, will kick off their bid for gold against Senegal at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium on July 26.  The Welsh Football Association, along with the Scots and Northern Irish, have worried that the inclusion of their players in a rare British squad for the Games could affect their football independence but football's world governing body FIFA has tried to allay their fears.

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week Is Coming

Sailing will be a headliner this summer when, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, organised by Cowes Week Limited will be held  August 11-18, 2012. Competitors from across the globe, will enjoy the fun and festivities of this year’s Cowes Week in what is a very special year for Great Britain.  Early entries include  Antigua and Barbuda,  Australia, Belgium, France, the Netherlands,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA; all helping to give the regatta its international flavour.

Since 1826, the Cowes Week Regatta has played an integral part of Britain's summer sports calendar and is considered to be one the longest running and most successful sporting event in the UK.   This mammoth sailing event stages up to 40 races daily, with about 1000 boats, making it the largest sailing event of its kind in the world.

The regatta which is over 180 years old and now known as Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week offers a great mix of competitive sailing, social activities and entertainment.  Over the week of competition, over 8500 competitors ranging from olympic and world class caliber to recreational sailors, mingle with an excess of 100,000 spectators who are out to have a great time at this one of kind event.

United States skipper Ted Sawyer will be in Cowes for the first time since breaking his neck during the Dragon Edinburgh Cup, in Cowes six years ago! The event will be the swan song of his wonderful cold-moulded Petticrow Dragon Clairvoyant, which will be sold after the event. As Ted will be 80 years old in 2013, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week will probably be his last major UK regatta in the Dragon class.

Between them, Ted’s two professional crew, Stavros (Martin Payne) and Pedro Andrade have won over 15 International & National Dragon titles and are threatening to give local favorite, Graham Bailey, a run for his money!

Closer to home, Brian Cooper of East Cowes was the fastest out of the blocks with his entry for Little Spirit being the first received by Cowes Week Limited. Home-grown Island talent will feature strongly among those battling for pole position at this year’s regatta, and the Island contingent will be hoping their local knowledge will provide an advantage in August.

The new Aberdeen Asset Management youth scheme has proved very popular with the offer of funding support to the first ten entries, with a full crew complement of under 25 year-olds being snapped up.  Among those contesting for the Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25’s Trophy are the Davies brothers at 16, 17 and 18 years-old who will be racing their XOD Westwind.

There are three entries from the British Keelboat Academy; a partnership between the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA) and Royal Yachting Association (RYA) designed to support young people aged 18-24 in developing the skills needed to take their keelboat racing to a professional level. From further afield, the Welsh crew racing in the Etchell’s class on Darling S, kindly loaned to them for the season by Ted Fort, will be making the journey to Cowes in August. Additionally, a team comprised entirely of Newcastle University students from the School of Marine Science and Technology will be racing in the ISCRS class in their aptly named boat, Newcastle University.

This year’s regatta promises to be better than ever with celebrations of Olympic proportion’s, as the country celebrates a summer of royal heritage and sporting prowess. So, for those that are deliberating entry for this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week,should not procrastinate too long.